Guwahati: A landmark clinical trial conducted in Assam has revealed that daily consumption of fortified CTC tea can effectively restore folate and vitamin B12 levels in women within 90 days, opening a new frontier for both public health innovation and the global tea economy.
Most Indian women have a low folate and vitamin B12 status that can progress to clinical deficiency and contributes to over 100,000 births annually with neural tube defects (NTDs). A common, widely accepted Indian food vehicle for fortification with folate and vitamin B12 has long remained elusive.
The findings, published in BMJ Nutrition, Prevention & Health, could reposition tea-one of the world's most consumed beverages-as a scientifically validated functional drink, or beverage, in compliance with the Government of India's push for the BioE3 policy for biomanufacturing of "functional food" for enhancing nutrition, ensuring food security, and fostering a sustainable bioeconomy, focusing on developing nutrient-enriched foods.
The study, led by researchers from Indiana University and lead-authored by Assam Medical College & Hospital, Dibrugarh, in collaboration with TRA-Tocklai Tea Research Institute and Dibrugarh University, tested whether India's widely consumed crush-tear-curl (CTC) tea could serve as a daily vehicle for delivering therapeutic doses of essential vitamins.
Tea was fortified with 1 mg of folate and 1 mg of vitamin B12 per cup, without affecting flavour, aroma, or appearance. Most Indian households prefer hot-brewed ('loose') black tea prepared by the 'crush, tear, curl' (CTC) method.
Clear Benefits Within Three Months
The results were compelling:
Mean serum folate increased by 5.3 ng/mL in the fortified-tea group, compared to negligible change in the control group.
Vitamin B12 levels rose by nearly 195 pg/mL, normalising B12 status in 25 of 30 women.
No negative impact was observed on iron absorption or haemoglobin levels-an important reassurance in populations with widespread anaemia risk.
Researchers noted that 89% of participants had low folate and 72% had low vitamin B12 at baseline, reflecting a larger national gap in micronutrient intake among Indian women.
The study's most significant contribution lies in its scalability. Since most Indian and global tea consumers use loose CTC tea rather than teabags, researchers manually fortified CTC granules and demonstrated high vitamin recovery during brewing.
This sets the stage for mass fortification at tea factories-particularly in Assam, which produces 52% of India's tea. The authors note that the next step is standardisation at the Tocklai Tea Research Institute, India's flagship tea R&D centre, to enable industry-wide adoption.
Globally, deficiencies of folate and vitamin B12 affect millions and contribute to preventable birth defects, anaemia, cognitive decline, and neurological disease. Because tea is consumed across Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Middle East, fortified tea could become one of the most accessible and culturally accepted nutrition interventions worldwide.
Public health experts say this model could also help countries struggling with low compliance to supplements and fortified staples.
For the global tea industry, this may mark the beginning of a new chapter. With consumers increasingly seeking wellness-oriented beverages, fortified tea backed by clinical evidence offers a promising category with both commercial and social impact.
The study concludes that fortified CTC tea is an "ideal and eminently scalable food vehicle" for addressing widespread micronutrient deficiencies among women.
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